Can Rabbits eat Potatoes, Potato Peels, or Sweet Potatoes?

Potatoes are very high in starch and should not be fed to rabbits. Sweet and starchy fruits and vegetables are difficult for rabbits to digest and simply end up feeding bad bacteria in their digestive system. These bacteria quickly ferment the starch and cause a change in the pH which eventually can lead to diarrhea. For the same reasons rabbits should not eat potato peels or sweet potatoes.

The primary diet of rabbits is hay which is naturally very low in starch. The complex fibers of they hay take time for the good bacteria in their gut to digest. In return these good bacteria produce healthy fats, high quality protein, B-vitmains, and other nutrients for the rabbits.

However, rabbits will be healthier when eating properly formulated and balanced pellets based upon hay and fortified with chelated minerals and properly balanced with natural vitamins. Baby rabbits require a high fat diet like “mamma’s milk” that provides them with the energy, protein, and other nutrients that they need at this time in their life.

Adult pet rabbits will be healthier eating a low-energy pet rabbit food that is grain-free and soy-free. This style of diet will help them to naturally produce more B-vitamins that help them feel energetic and playful. It will also ensure that they get all of the nutrients they need to maintain long-term health.

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iProteinAdult rabbits need about 14% protein in their diet (if well balanced).

Fat%

iFatAdult rabbits will he healthier with about 4-5% fat in their diet as long as they don't eat too many calories (from starch/sugar).

Fiber%

iFiberAdult rabbits need a minimum of 20% fiber in their diet.

Calcium%

iCalciumA balanced diet contains a minimum of 0.6% calcium. Too much calcium can be a problem if Phosphorous is lacking or if synthetic Vitamin D3 is added to the diet.

Phosphorous%

iPhosphorousAdult rabbits need a minimum of 0.4% phosphorous.

Ratio

iRatioIt is important to balance the ratio of calcium and phosphorous. Ideal values are less than 6.

Choline

iCholineCholine is a very important vitamin that is often overlooked. Units displayed below are in "mg/100 grams diet"

Vitamin E

iVitamin EVitamin E and Choline work together to support healthy tissues will greatly benefit with higher dietary concentrations. Units displayed below are in "mg/100 grams diet"(minimum needed to prevent muscular dystrophy is 5mg/100g).

Starch/Sugar%

iStarch/SugarToo much starch or sugar in the diet will cause bloating and diarrhea. Max values are less than 14% of the total diet. Ideally adult rabbits do better with concentrations lower than 5% (prevents excess fat accumulation).

More information

Potato, raw

2%

0.1%

2.2%

0.012%

0.057%

0.2

12.1

0

16.2%

Details

More Information

Potatoes are a very starchy root and not the natural part of a rabbits diet. Please don't feed your rabbits potatoes because it will upset the digestive flora in their gut and cause diarrhea.

Sweet Potato, raw

1.6%

0.1%

3%

0.03%

0.047%

0.6

12.3

0.3

16.9%

Details

More Information

Sweet potatoes also have too much starch and not enough protien and other nutrients that rabbits need to stay healthy.